High School Sports » Maplewoodhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/high-school-sports
The TennesseanWed, 19 Mar 2014 00:26:17 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=3.6Maplewood adds game against Maryland foehttp://blogs.tennessean.com/high-school-sports/2013/09/03/maplewood-adds-game-against-maryland-foe/
http://blogs.tennessean.com/high-school-sports/2013/09/03/maplewood-adds-game-against-maryland-foe/#commentsTue, 03 Sep 2013 19:04:57 +0000Maurice Pattonhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/high-school-sports/?p=5244Arcentae Broome was resigned to his Maplewood football team playing a nine-game schedule this fall — and being the only Division I program in the Midstate to do so — before the phone rang a few weeks ago.

A 10th game is now all but finalized, as the Panthers are set to play visiting Eastern Christian Academy of Elkton, Md., on Sept. 27.

“We’re sending them a contract on Thursday or Friday,” Broome said. “We just wanted to make sure playing them wouldn’t endanger anything we had going on here.”

Broome said school officials discussed the potential matchup with the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association and received approval.

Eastern Christian Academy, whose football coach is former Tennessee State assistant Dwayne Thomas, is in its second year of existence. A large majority of its students take classes online, and the team plays a national schedule because it is only approved as a non-member school by the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association.

Thus far, the Honey Badgers are 2-0 with wins over Champagnat Catholic of Hialeah, Fla. (40-6), and Banneker, Ga. (56-13). They feature junior quarterback David Sills V, who made national news when he committed to Southern Cal as a seventh-grader, and six other players who have committed to sign Division I scholarships in February.

“We like to have our kids prepared for college in all aspects — academically, athletically, socially,” said Thomas, whose team played Banneker in Atlanta on a Thursday night. “If we can get them out on some road trips, they get a taste of preparing from that travel aspect.

“We saw that (Maplewood) had an open date. We usually contact anybody within reasonable distance that has an open date. Our athletics director reached out to them, they responded favorably and we went on with the game.”

Among the six seniors already set to sign are receiver Neiko Creamer, a Tennessee commitment and the son of former UT defensive back and TSU assistant Andre Creamer.

“We’re hoping the game will bring some SEC (recruiting) looks, some looks from some of these southern schools, for some of those kids and some of our kids,” Broome said. “It’ll bring a little of a gate — maybe the unknown of Eastern Christian. But it’s just two teams suiting up to play. They needed a game, we needed a game.

“It’s a big leap for us, but … competition is what it’s all about. You want your kids to see good competition sometimes, and sometimes you have to go outside the realm of what everybody else is doing.”

Maplewood’s Jason Stone and Kenny Robertson both scored their 1,000th point last week.

The players were both honored at halftime on Senior Night against Hume-Fogg this past Tuesday.

“Jason scored his Friday against CPA and Kenny got his against East,” Panther Coach Ty Wilson said. “We wanted them to celebrate together with their families. What better time to do it than senior night.”

Neither player realized that they were close to the milestone and they both were overjoyed to reach this lofty goal.

“Feels good, this is a great accomplishment, said a smiling Robertson. ‘I had no idea that I was close.” Stone concurred with his longtime friend and teammate.

]]>http://blogs.tennessean.com/high-school-sports/2013/02/12/stone-robertson-reach-career-milestones/feed/0Local girls decide on collegiate basketball destinationshttp://blogs.tennessean.com/high-school-sports/2012/08/22/local-girls-decide-on-collegiate-basketball-destinations/
http://blogs.tennessean.com/high-school-sports/2012/08/22/local-girls-decide-on-collegiate-basketball-destinations/#commentsWed, 22 Aug 2012 19:20:20 +0000Maurice Pattonhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/high-school-sports/?p=3623One of Katrina Carter’s current players and two of her former players have settled their collegiate plans.

Pearl-Cohn’s Porche’ Hannah announced she will sign a girls basketball scholarship with Grambling during the early recruiting period in November, while Hillsboro teammates Nicole Bowers and Jemilah Leonard are headed to the Ohio Valley Conference – Bowers to Eastern Kentucky, Leonard to Tennessee State.

Hannah, a 6-4 post player, also had interest from TSU, Alabama State, George Mason and Southern Miss.

“I really liked the coach and the surroundings; it really felt like home,” Hannah said of the Louisiana school, where she will play for longtime coach Patricia Bibbs.

“She’s got good moves inside, she’s very academically motivated, and she’s got great upside,” Carter said of Hannah. “She’ll be a great asset for Grambling.”

Leonard, a 5-6 guard, also had a scholarship offer from Grambling and considered Hampton, Norfolk State, Texas-Arlington and North Florida as well.

“I like the coaching staff, and I like being able to stay close to home,” Leonard said. “I want my family to be able to see me play.”

Bowers considered Austin Peay, William & Mary and Texas A&M.

“They’ve been watching me since I was a freshman,” the 6-footer said. “They like my versatility – the fact that I can play with my back to the basket or face up.”

Gilbert also commits: Aryanna Gilbert, who helped Lawrence County to the Class AAA tournament as a junior but will play at District 8-AAA rival Columbia this year, committed to Tennessee-Chattanooga.

“My mom and I weighed the options, and UTC was the best choice,” said the 5-10 forward, who also looked at Middle Tennessee State, Austin Peay and TSU. “I loved the campus and the coaches.”

Maplewood names coach: Tristan Jones-Williams has been hired as girls basketball coach at Maplewood, following the resignation of Mark Hayes at the conclusion of the 2011-12 season.

“He had struggled with it all his life,” Maplewood Athletics Director Eric Townsend said of Holt. “He had been out before for a week at a time and usually bounced back. This time, he took a turn for the worse. We lost a good one.”

Holt, 35, had come to Maplewood with Coach Arcentae Broome from McGavock prior to the 2009 season and had worked with the Panthers defensive secondary.

“He was like a son to me,” said Maplewood defensive coordinator Dorris Armstrong, who coached Holt when they were both at Whites Creek during the 1990s. “It’s unbelievable to me that he’s gone.”

A 1995 Whites Creek graduate, Holt went on to attend Tennessee State before entering the coaching profession.

“He was a special dude,” former Whites Creek and TSU football standout Eric Joyce said of his ex-teammate. “We briefly coached together at Whites Creek. He had the unique ability to reach the hard-headed kids. They listened to him and loved him like a father. He was able to get the most out of those kids.

“He really had a gift in terms of motivating the kids and teaching the game of football and life.”

Maplewood tailback Ladarius Vanlier, a Tennessee Tech signee who rushed for 2,294 yards and scored 24 touchdowns last season, has been named the District 10-AA football player of the year.

“This is a big accomplishment, but I couldn’t have done it without the support of my parents always encouraging me, my coaches putting me in the correct positions to succeed and my teammates always having my back,” Vanlier said in a press release from Maplewood. “We are like a big family here, so I share this and all of my accomplishments with my Maplewood family.”

Seven Panthers were named to the all-district team. Wide receiver/defensive back Navonte Parks and defensive back Randall “Bay Bay” Smith were named for the second year in a row. Rounding out the team for the Panthers were William Hume Award winner/offensive lineman Dustin Binkley, Lindsey-Wilson College-(Ky.)bound defensive end Steven Johnson and fullback/defensive end Denzel Jones. Two juniors also made the team: offensive lineman Levontre Goins and defensive back Cortez Adams.

“Having the most players named to the team shows that we were more than a one-man gang,” Maplewood Coach Arcentae Broome said. “To me, there were easily about five or six more guys that could have made it, but we will take eight.”

Maplewood’s Arcentae Broome has been named Titans high school football coach of the week after rallying with two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to overcome a 13-point deficit in a 21-20 win over previously unbeaten Christ Presbyterian Academy on Friday.

CPA was ranked second in the Associated Press Class 3A poll.

“Coach Broome is fun to be around, always has a smile on his face and great attitude,” said Maplewood executive principal Ron Woodard. “Coach (Broome) loves the kids and we are excited for him.”

Through the Titans Foundation, team Owner K.S. “Bud” Adams, Jr. will make a $1,000 contribution to the Maplewood High School football program in Coach Broome’s honor.

Coach Broome will be the team’s guest at the Titans game against New Orleans on December 11 when the Titans honor all 2011 Coach of the Week winners. On that date, the Titans will also announce the winner of the 2011 Coach of the Year, who will earn a $2,000 grant for his football program.

Also receiving strong consideration in this week’s poll, with outstanding performances, were Wiley Bracket of Oliver Springs High, avenging last season’s district championship loss by defeating Oneida High 34-28 and Eric Swenson of Huntingdon High, upsetting top-ranked Milan High, 24-13.

The 5-6, 155-pound senior tailback has managed 376 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns in the Panthers’ opening two games.

But Vanlier isn’t capable of carrying an entire offense, and that’s a concern for second-year Maplewood Coach Arcentae Broome.

“We’ve got to step up to the plate, mentally and physically,” Broome said after his team compiled 151 offensive yards — 144 on the ground — and was penalized nine times for 79 yards in a 35-7 loss Friday night to visiting Brentwood Academy.

Panther quarterback Alvin Stokes completed two passes to his team and one to the Eagles, finishing with seven passing yards on six attempts.

Of Maplewood’s 39 offensive plays, 23 involved Vanlier as he had 22 carries for 101 yards and a 4-yard reception. But if the Panthers are to return to the Class 4A semifinals or move past that point, they have to develop some other offensive weapons.

“Even though we’re a year older, we’re not necessarily a year smarter in the game,” Broome said. “I don’t know if our football IQ is high enough.”

]]>http://blogs.tennessean.com/high-school-sports/2011/08/29/maplewood-seeking-offensive-options-besides-vanlier/feed/0McGill lands girls hoops coaching position at Maplewoodhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/high-school-sports/2011/08/05/mcgill-lands-girls-hoops-coaching-position-at-maplewood/
http://blogs.tennessean.com/high-school-sports/2011/08/05/mcgill-lands-girls-hoops-coaching-position-at-maplewood/#commentsFri, 05 Aug 2011 18:45:35 +0000Maurice Pattonhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/high-school-sports/?p=2240Lemore McGill expected to return to the bench at Hillsboro when he stepped aside in 2008 because of health issues.

Three years later, McGill is back in familiar surroundings — but not at Hillsboro.

Earlier this week, the 60-year-old McGill was named to succeed Mark Hayes at Maplewood, filling a position that had been vacant since late February.

“Coach McGill is a guy who’s highly respected in the community,” first-year Maplewood Principal Ron Woodard said. “He’s very familiar with this community. He’s a guy who really cares about kids and pushes kids to the next level, and that’s what we’re looking for.”

It’ll be McGill’s second time at Maplewood, having previously coached there from 1997-2003. After leaving the Lady Panthers, he went to Hillsboro for a second stint and virtually constructed the team that won the 2009 Class AAA championship.

“I had known I’d had kidney problems for two or three years before I stepped down,” he said. “I knew I was going to have to go on dialysis. I was trying to get through that last summer and come back and work, but it didn’t work out. If I can’t do it full speed, the way it should be done, I’m not going to do it.

“I took a leave of absence, under the impression I’d be coming back after the leave of absence, but that didn’t work out.”

Hillsboro, incidentally, is still looking for a coach after Katrina Carter — McGill’s replacement — was dismissed at the end of the school year. The Stratford girls position remains vacant as well.

McGill takes over a team that was 8-15 last season and 5-20 the year before. The Lady Panthers will be ineligible for the postseason following Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association sanctions for a fight that took place last year.

“We’re just going to start from scratch and build from the bottom up,” he said.

]]>http://blogs.tennessean.com/high-school-sports/2011/08/05/mcgill-lands-girls-hoops-coaching-position-at-maplewood/feed/0Top softball players in District 10-AA honoredhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/high-school-sports/2011/05/31/top-softball-players-in-district-10-aa-honored/
http://blogs.tennessean.com/high-school-sports/2011/05/31/top-softball-players-in-district-10-aa-honored/#commentsTue, 31 May 2011 19:50:16 +0000Maurice Pattonhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/high-school-sports/?p=2052Hume-Fogg pitcher Maggie Bates was recently named the District 10-AA Player of the Year in a vote of the league’s coaches.